Kevin retires after 19 years as Savio House cook
Posted: Mon, 26 Feb 2018 14:52
At Savio House, the community and staff gathered to say thank you and farewell to Kevin Owen, who retired this week.
Kevin will be known to many across the Salesian family, as he has been a dedicated cook at Savio House for over 19 years. The community and staff came together to give thanks for Kevin's long service.
Fr Martin Coyle proposed a toast thanking Kevin for the hundreds of thousands of plates... Read More »
Discerning a priestly vocation volunteering in India
Posted: Fri, 23 Feb 2018 16:30
(Pictured: Joe pictured with Fr Tom Uzhunnalil SDB)
BOVA volunteer Joe writes about how his experience in India is helping him discern his vocation to the priesthood
For as long as I can remember I have had an inexplicable desire to be a priest. This desire is not something that comes from me, it is not something I want to do; it is something I feel called to do. For a long time, I supressed that calling,... Read More »
Students' Krakow visit honours SDB killed in Auschwitz
Posted: Thu, 22 Feb 2018 14:57
This month, Salesian students from Farnborough, spent some time following the footsteps of Bl Józef Kowalski, one of the Salesians killed in Auschwitz
During their trip to Krakow during half term, 44 students from Salesian College Farnborough, visited the Salesian Parish of Saint Stanislaus & St John Bosco in Debniki, where St John Paul II had been a parishioner.
They were welcomed by Fr Zygmunt... Read More »
Battersea 125th celebrations begin with lecture series in honour of Fr Pat
Posted: Fri, 16 Feb 2018 16:37
As part of the parish's celebration for our 125th anniversary of the consecration of Sacred Heart Church, we are holding a series of lectures in honour of a much loved priest of the community, Fr Pat McGrath SDB. The opening lecture in January looked at the history of Christianity in Battersea from the first Christian settlement to the re-founding of the Catholic Mission at Battersea Park in 1860.... Read More »
New BOVA volunteers are off to India and Cambodia
Posted: Fri, 16 Feb 2018 13:47
Anita Morais tells us about the latest BOVA (Bosco Volunteer Action) volunteers as they set off to their placements.
Paul and Alan are both beginning their BOVA placements this month.
Alan is the first volunteer we are sending to Don Bosco Ashalayam, Kolkata, through the links we have had from Fr Andrew Ebrahim's visits to the community. Alan will spend 2 months initially with the community in Kolkata... Read More »
Ash Wednesday - Lenten Reflection
Posted: Tue, 13 Feb 2018 23:43
The Spirit of Jesus drives us forward
Fr Michael Winstanley SDB reflects on the challenges and the gifts that surround us as we begin the season of Lent, in the desert with Jesus.
As we set out on our Lenten journey, our annual desert safari, I'm wondering about the contours of my own desert. The Judean wilderness consisted of ravines and limestone hills, a bleak, unfriendly landscape. We are familiar... Read More »
Feast of Blessed Eusebia Palomino Yenes
Posted: Thu, 8 Feb 2018 17:37
Eusebia's short life was full of challenges, which she bore with grace and piety. Born in Spain in 1899, into a poor farming family, she became accustomed to begging to help her family survive in bad times. She worked as a servant to a wealthy family, and later became a nanny at an orphanage. Her call to religious life led her to become a lay assistant to the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians (the... Read More »
SDBs try out Farnborough students' Social Media 101
Posted: Thu, 8 Feb 2018 14:22
Photo: Ben Martin
Fr Pat Sherlock SDB reports on a valuable new initiative from students of Salesian College Farnborough.
On 7th February, members of the Salesian Community in Farnborough attended a practical session on Social Media organised by a group of Year 12 students in the College.
Last year, the students received a grant from Caritas Portsmouth and the Catenians to develop a project to coach older... Read More »
Farnborough students prepare for Lourdes Easter liturgies
Posted: Tue, 6 Feb 2018 10:48
Fr Pat Sherlock updates us on preparations for music at the HCPT (Hosanna House & Children's Pilgrimage Trust) liturgies at Lourdes this Easter.
On Saturday 3rd February there was a rehearsal, led by HCPT Pilgrimage Director Andy Clare, at Salesian College Farnborough. The HCPT liturgies this Easter are being led by the American Special Children's Pilgrimage Group, but as they can bring only a limited... Read More »
Scouse and Argentinian music at Battersea's Don Bosco celebration
Posted: Tue, 6 Feb 2018
Fr David O'Malley SDB describes an eclectic celebration of Don Bosco in Battersea
The Battersea Salesian family gathered on Saturday evening, February 3rd to pray and to celebrate Don Bosco's day. The group gathered for an evening prayer, beautifully led by Bro Gregory and within that we were able to listen to Fr Angel's message for 2018 on video. Then we moved into sharing food,... Read More »